Thompson had opened the cages and gates of his animals — including bears, cheetahs, wolves, lions, camels, giraffes and a white Siberian tiger — prior to giving himself a fatal, self-inflicted gun shot wound, police allege.

As RadarOnline.com previously reported, a neighbor of the 62-year-old said that he kept many of the potentially dangerous animals like pets and had raised some of the cubs since birth.

Terry would bring their exotic creatures to children’s birthday parties, while his school teacher wife, Marian, is thought to have taken them to school to show her students.

In light of the heart-breaking incident, PETA has spoken out against owners who treat exotic wildlife as pets and the states that allow it.

“Keeping exotic animals is inhumane and unsafe for both animals and people, and it’s high time that Ohio did something about it,” Delcianna Winders, Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals organization) exclusively told RadarOnline.com.

Winders went on to explain that there are many more ranches housing wild animals across America and that this is not an isolated incidence.

“Ohio’s governor failed the animals and the citizens of Ohio when, earlier this year, he refused to extend an emergency ban on exotic animals in the state that had been put in place by his predecessor.”

With both prior charges of animal abuse and a criminal record for the possession of illegal firearms, “Thompson never should have been allowed to have the animals in the first place,” said Winders.